2020 Nissan PATHFINDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
7,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 47 complaints (34.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 14.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 8.5% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 2 |
Engine: 16; Electrical System: 11; Power Train: 8; Unknown Or Other: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Suspension: 3; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 42 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 8; 2023: 8; 2024: 8; 2025: 7; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11327192 · 2020-06-03 (June 3, 2020)
WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT I HEARD A VERY HIGH PITCH NOISE. I PUT MY WINDOW DOWN TO HEAR WHAT IT WAS. THE SOUND WAS VERY CONCERNING ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE LESS THAN 3K MILES ON MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T SURE WHY IT WAS MAKING THE NOISE... (IT STOPPED ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP) BUT THEY SAID MY CAR WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I WOULD OF NEVER KNOWN MY CAR WAS HAVING THESE ISSUES IF I DIDN'T HEARD THAT NOISE. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR EVEN FOR 3 MONTHS YET & IT ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361565 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING ON AUGUST 30 APPROXIMATELY 7:45ON MY VEHICLE'S BRAKES APPLIED BY ITSELF WITHOUT ME APPLYING THE BRAKES.AT THE TIME I WAS ONLY YOU 20 MPH.I NOTIFIED NISSAN,AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO GET BACK TO ME ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE.THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 6 WEEKS OLD.MY VEHICLE IS A 2020 NISSAN PATHFINDER.I NEED HELP.THANKS.I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET.
Owner-reported narrative. 798 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11362665 · 2020-10-04 (October 4, 2020)
PERIODICALLY THE BACK UP CAMERA SHORTS OUT AND YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO USE IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,144 miles reported. Look up ODI 11362665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11385020 · 2020-12-26 (December 26, 2020)
WHEN DRIVING OR IDLING YOU GET A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE DRIVERS COMPARTMENT. DEALER SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIX WAS TO GET THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM ON RECIRCULATING AND NOT FRESH AIR. THIS IS CONSTANT PROBLEM NO MATTER THE TWHAT THE TEMP AT URGE ISOUTSIDE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11402596 · 2021-03-12 (March 12, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COURTESY NISSAN (1777 N CENTRAL EXPY, RICHARDSON, TX 75080, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,700.*DT
Owner-reported narrative. 19,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11402596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11446132 · 2022-01-04 (January 4, 2022)
We rented this vehicle from Budget for about two weeks. On two separate occasions the backup camera went blank and the rear parking sensors quit working. I stopped the vehicle and shifted from reverse to drive and back but the rear view camera and sensors did not come back on. After I shutdown and restarted the vehicle, they started working again. We turned the vehicle in on 1/3/2021 and mentioned the issue to the lot attendant.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11446132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11476218 · 2022-07-27 (July 27, 2022)
Engine pinging/knocking and engine hesitation / surging most obvious in second gear steady throttle around 2k rpm. Doesn't matter what gas is used. Engine hesitation and pinging/knocking is getting worse. NISSAN states its normal operation.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11476218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11476228 · 2022-07-27 (July 27, 2022)
When braking anywhere from 50 mph to 25mph rpms increase whe braking, engine and transmission still pushing vehicle until torque converter disengages at 20mph. If you need to slow down quickly it requires extra braking force until the car reaches 20mph.. if you put the car in neutral it will slow down much faster because transmission and engine aren't still pushing the truck. This hot much worse after Nissan changed the transmission program a few months ago.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11476228 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.